Strava shows just how tough the final metres of Giro d'Italia's Monte Zoncolan really were
Riders climbed through the mist up the murderous climb and obliterated the previous best Strava times

Just watching the riders of the Giro d'Italia battle against the gradient up the Monte Zoncolan was enough to feel exhausted, let alone those riding it.
Jan Tratnik (Bahrain-Victorious) zigzagged across the road as he tried in vain to claw back Lorenzo Fortunato (EOLO-Kometa), who held on to take the stage 14 win, while Egan Bernal (Ineos Grenadiers) took more time on his general classification rivals.
Following the stage, and after picking themselves up off the floor, some riders have shared their data on Strava, upturning the previous top 10 leaderboards on the segments up to the summit.
Over the final 3km, the steepest part of the climb, the average gradient is over 12 per cent but reaches an eye-watering maximum of 27 per cent.
Bahrain-Victorious' Damiano Caruso now holds the KOM up to the summit from the Sutrio side by 19 seconds over Romain Bardet, the Italian one of the first of the GC contenders to cross the line after Bernal and Simon Yates had jumped from the group, and now moves up to third in the general classification.
>>> Simon Yates hints at problems in first week of Giro d’Italia 2021
Caruso averaged 14.3km/h over these final few kilometres, but his average speed up the final 'Muro finale' segment was only 10.8km/h - the road must have felt like it was almost vertical - and his average power is estimated to have been 415W.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
BikeExchange's Nick Schultz also posted his heart rate data, averaging 166bpm over the final few kilometres.
The stage winner Fortunato showed his victory wasn't only down to the head start he'd given himself from his presence in the breakaway, as he posted times quick enough to get inside the top five on the Strava leaderboards.
Of course, not all riders have posted their data, and the likes of Bernal and Yates would likely have the top two times had they decided to share the numbers behind their rides.
Climbing Records, however, estimate that Bernal has set the fastest-ever time on this side of the Zoncolan, riding it in 40-02 at an average speed of 19.63km/h.
This is estimated to be 1-26 quicker than the previous best time of Gilberto Simoni, who won the Zoncolan stage at the 2003 Giro.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
How to watch Dwars door Vlaanderen 2025: Everything you need to live stream the cobbled Belgian Classic
All the information on broadcasters and live streams for Dwars door Vlaanderen on 2 April, as Wout van Aert, Mads Pedersen, Marianne Vos and Lotte Kopecky take on the cobbles.
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Can anyone stop Primož Roglič or Juan Ayuso from winning the Giro d’Italia?
Roglič and Ayuso's form suggest they are the two outright favourites for overall victory in Rome next month
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 receive Giro d’Italia wildcard invite along with Tudor Pro Cycling
Team Polti Visit Malta and VF Group BardianiCSF - Faizane also receive invitations from RCS
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Extra wildcard team approved for Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España
Number of teams to increase from 22 to 23 at men's Grand Tours
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I never really had a Plan B' - Dan Martin on his cycling career and getting into running after retirement
The two-time Tour de France stage winner takes part in Cycling Weekly’s Q&A
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tao Geoghegan Hart aims to 'be competitive, even in small races' as he starts 2025 under the radar
‘I think it's a little bit nonsensical to look past that and to start looking at big goals’ says 29-year-old Lidl-Trek rider as he explains he will start the year at the Volta ao Algarve
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'He’s at the age now where he's coming into his prime' - Where does Tadej Pogačar go next after a year of unequalled domination?
Becoming the first male rider since 1987 to complete cycling’s hallowed triple crown earns the Slovenian this year’s prize. Tom Thewlis salutes a spectacular year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Giro d’Italia 2025 to start in Albania
Two road stages and an individual time trial to take place across three days of racing in Balkan country
By Tom Thewlis Published